Group of statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas excavated at Lorian Tangai, Peshawar District 10031042

Photograph, taken by Alexander Caddy in 1896, of a large group of perhaps fifty statues and fragments of Buddhist sculpture collected at Loriyan Tangai and arranged for photography in the open air. The sculptures represent Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The latter are enlightened humans who, rather than ascending to nirvana chose to remain on earth and aid others in their quest for enlightenment. They formed an important part of Mahayana Buddhist doctrine, a school of thought that was becoming popular in South Asia in the first and second centuries AD. At the same time, Peshawar district, in northern Pakistan, was becoming well known for the production of sculptures like those pictured here. Known as Gandhara, it was ruled by a dynasty of Chinese origin called the Kushans. They were Buddhists and under their influence, the religion, and the arts associated with it were allowed to flourish. The reign of the Kushan king Kanishka, is particularly well known for its artistic achievements and it was during his reign, from 78 AD, that we find the first examples of the Graeco-Roman influenced Gandharan style of sculpture. The classical influence on these sculptures can be clearly seen in the figures draped clothing, their curly hair and the naturalistic modelling of their bodies.